HARIPUR: After parting of ways by former state minister for finance Omar Ayub Khan, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz suffered another setback when one of its strong candidates from PK-42, Haripur II, Qazi Mohammad Asad decided to contest the election in independent capacity, sources told Dawn here on Saturday.

Although PML-N might have alternatives to both Mr Ayub and Mr Asad, political observers termed the departure of the two leaders, who could be winning candidates, not less than a disaster for the party.

Mr Asad, who had won the election for the first time during 2002 as an independent candidate defeating Yousuf Ayub, the first cousin of Omar Ayub, had later joined PML-Q. However, after staging a comeback for the second consecutive term in 2008 he joined ANP and became minister for higher education.

He brought development projects worth billions, including elevation of Haripur campus of Hazara University to the status of a full-fledged University of Haripur, during his stint as minister. During 2013 election he got PML-N’s ticket and lost to PTI candidate Yousuf Ayub who was later disqualified under Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution by ECP.

Observers say loss of Omar Ayub and Asad can dent party’s chances in polls

Akbar Ayub, younger brother of Yousuf Ayub, is sitting PTI MPA from PK-50 (now PK-40) who defeated Qazi Asad during by-election on this seat.

However, the policy of nepotism proved detrimental to the unity of PML-N’s rank when after recent delimitation some urban and semi-urban union councils of Haripur city were annexed to the PK-42 which has majority of UCs from Ghazi tehsil.

The new delimitation has virtually turned the old friends into foes as Asad has announced to contest from his native constituency. While former provincial president PML-N and Senator Pir Sabir Shah might not tolerate anybody else than his own family members, as he is likely to field his nephew Sahibzada Hamid Shah, member of district council, against Mr Asad.

“Pir Sahib is not ready to create space for others against his family. So I’ve decided to contest in independent capacity,” Mr Asad told Dawn, adding he had consulted his supporters who endorsed the decision.

“Come what may I would not reverse my decision and contest as independent from my native constituency,” he said.

The other PML-N’s estranged politician from Haripur is Omar Ayub, who was elected twice from NA-19, now renamed as NA 17.

He had served as cabinet member in Shaukat Aziz’s govt and had several development projects to his credit.

Observers believe that though Mr Ayub put his political career at stake by supporting candidature of sitting PML-N’s MNA Babar Nawaz during by-election in 2015, his soft attitude helped him in regaining the lost space.

However, leaning of central leadership towards Babar Nawaz annoyed Mr Ayub who parted ways with PML-N and joined PTI on February 17.

Imtiaz Ahmed, a local PML-N activist, said that parting ways by Omar Auyb and Asad was a big loss to his party, which was already in hot waters after the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif.

He believes that internal differences are narrowing the political space for PML-N.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2018